3 ways to improve public transportation with technology

When it is thriving and healthy, public transportation can serve as an economic driver for an entire region. According to the American Public Transportation Association, long-term investment in public transit generates a 5-to-1 economic return. Accordingly, state, city and local governments are always considering ways to improve public transportation and boost ridership.

Technology can play a valuable role where this is concerned, enabling governments to enhance the services they provide and compete more effectively with alternative modes of transportation. Now that increased funding for public transportation is available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), governments have a unique opportunity to make timely investments that will have a transformative impact on the communities they serve and help enhance existing infrastructure with the right connectivity. 

According to an article by Government Technology Insider, “For local and state agencies, the focus needs to be placed on the network to guarantee continuous operations.” Public transportation technology, like IoT sensors, smart cameras, LiDAR, and others, can help governments improve public transit in several ways. Security innovations like near real-time response analytics make it easier for public transportation and public safety authorities to keep their transit systems safe and secure, while convenient mobile apps streamline trips and enable contactless digital payments. All of these advancements make public transportation more attractive to potential riders who might otherwise opt for other modes of transportation or simply stay home (if they have that choice). Here are 3 ways to improve public transportation when using the right network and the right technology.

Passengers, public transportation leaders and public safety leaders are concerned about rising crime in the public transportation systems, particularly in large cities. According to a study by the Mineta Transportation Institute, the United States now ranks first among economically advanced countries when it comes to the number of attacks and fatalities on public transportation passengers and employees.

However, new public transportation technology can help improve passenger security in several ways.

• Positive train control (PTC) continuously tracks train movements and monitors rail tracks for emerging risks, such as trains that are traveling at unsafe speeds or a mainline switch in an improper position and can help monitor and/or maintain the distance between trains. In such a scenario, the PTC can automatically trigger a train's braking system or prevent a collision with another train that is traveling on the same line.
• Air monitoring sensors are essential to public safety in public transportation systems, especially in large cities. They can provide a crucial early warning in the event that a biological or chemical attack is underway, helping public transit systems, public safety officials, public health officials and first responders marshal a prompt response that increases the chances of saving lives.
• Real-time response systems bring together data from a wide range of sources and technologies—such as computer-aided dispatch, video sensors, record management systems and third-party databases—to provide a holistic view of the safety and security conditions across a public transportation system at any given moment. They give public transit and public safety leaders crucial situational awareness to make timely decisions about potential threats. Real-time response systems also support better interagency collaboration, which also makes it possible to organize a prompt response when needed.
• Intelligent video analytics capture high-quality video, which can then be analyzed to spot unusual or abnormal behavior and trigger alerts. Public transportation conductors can also use these kinds of analytics to find out when the vehicle is at capacity, allowing them to take the necessary measures to prioritize passenger safety in near real time.

State, city and local governments that are trying to figure out ways to improve public transportation have a rare opportunity to make meaningful investments in public technology through the IIJA. This once-in-a-generation federal funding opportunity provides approximately $400 billion in funding for transportation alone. The IIJA's objective is to support transformational projects that make the nation's transportation systems safer and more resilient, and public transit is included in the use cases that are eligible for funding. Public transit authorities may wish to pursue IIJA funding to improve safety, accessibility and convenience across the services they offer.